Theatre Soon Completed
Box Elder News, 24 April 1913, page 1
The end of this week will see the completion of the new Alta Theatre, barring unforeseen obstacles, and the roomy pleasure house will be ready for its dedication which takes place next Wednesday evening when the Commercial Club artists present their roaring comedy.
The Alta has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000 persons. The auditorium is 110 feet from the lobby entrance to the stage and the seats are arranged in thee tiers one in the center and one on each side. The width of the auditorium must be about forty feet. In the seating arrangements are included a small balcony with accommodations for about 50 persons and twelve boxes, six on a side upper and lower, equipped with six chairs each. The floor is solid cement and the seats are of malleable iron and hard wood, so that the danger from fire is minimized while sanitary arrangements are well nigh perfect from the fact that instead of sweeping out the place, it will be flushed out with water.
The walls of the auditorium are handsomely tinted and decorated. The ceiling is done in a light yellow while the walls are tinted a dark tan with mahogany panels with brown stenciled borders. The tinting of the walls gives a pleasant effect, the colors harmonizing perfectly and reflecting a soft light which is most pleasant to the eyes. Two five-globe bunch lights are suspended from the ceiling mid-way from the stage to the center and from the center to the lobby and on each side wall projects three lights while the sides of the boxes will display a profusion of small lights. In the center of the ceiling is a latticed vent 5x8 feet and the auditorium will be heated by seven 31 section radiators arranged along the sides and at the lobby entrance. In the lobby two lavatories have been provided and the stairway to the balcony leads up from the lobby also. In the center of the balcony is located the operating room for the motion picture machines which is lined with asbestos and made as near fire proof as possible. There are three exits to the auditorium in case of accident or fire, the double door entrance in the lobby, a double door exit under the west set of boxes and a wide door on the east in the center of the hall. There is also a private exit from the west boxes to the outside.
The stage is the feature of the building for it is of modern dimensions equipped with hoisting facilities instead of rolling. It is 50x35 feet over all, the proscenium being 32 feet wide so that there is ample stage room for any show that travels and a production of the stupendousness of Ben Hur could be successfully handled. In the flies, pulleys have been set every one foot apart in the depth so that it will be possible to dress the stage 32 feet wide and any depth from one foot to thirty-five and everything is hoisted right up in the skyscraper and nothing will be rolled at all. The stage will be equipped with an asbestos curtain and an advertising curtain as well as the necessary change of scenery, wings and other accessories. The fly gallery is located on the west side high above the proscenium arch and there the stage hands will operate the scenery and curtains.
A wide door in the east wall opens level with the roadway from whence the baggage of the performers will be swung by means of a block and tackle over the trap door in the center of the stage and lowered to the dressing rooms which are directly under the stage. Of dressing rooms there are seven, each steam heated and equipped with hot and cold water. The floor of each room is of cement which will lessen the danger from fire.
All in all the Alta theatre is a splendid play house; large and comfortable, capable of handling any show that travels, conveniently located for both playgoers and traveling companies. The big opening occurs next week and amusement lovers will then have an opportunity to inspect if personally.
The Alta has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000 persons. The auditorium is 110 feet from the lobby entrance to the stage and the seats are arranged in thee tiers one in the center and one on each side. The width of the auditorium must be about forty feet. In the seating arrangements are included a small balcony with accommodations for about 50 persons and twelve boxes, six on a side upper and lower, equipped with six chairs each. The floor is solid cement and the seats are of malleable iron and hard wood, so that the danger from fire is minimized while sanitary arrangements are well nigh perfect from the fact that instead of sweeping out the place, it will be flushed out with water.
The walls of the auditorium are handsomely tinted and decorated. The ceiling is done in a light yellow while the walls are tinted a dark tan with mahogany panels with brown stenciled borders. The tinting of the walls gives a pleasant effect, the colors harmonizing perfectly and reflecting a soft light which is most pleasant to the eyes. Two five-globe bunch lights are suspended from the ceiling mid-way from the stage to the center and from the center to the lobby and on each side wall projects three lights while the sides of the boxes will display a profusion of small lights. In the center of the ceiling is a latticed vent 5x8 feet and the auditorium will be heated by seven 31 section radiators arranged along the sides and at the lobby entrance. In the lobby two lavatories have been provided and the stairway to the balcony leads up from the lobby also. In the center of the balcony is located the operating room for the motion picture machines which is lined with asbestos and made as near fire proof as possible. There are three exits to the auditorium in case of accident or fire, the double door entrance in the lobby, a double door exit under the west set of boxes and a wide door on the east in the center of the hall. There is also a private exit from the west boxes to the outside.
The stage is the feature of the building for it is of modern dimensions equipped with hoisting facilities instead of rolling. It is 50x35 feet over all, the proscenium being 32 feet wide so that there is ample stage room for any show that travels and a production of the stupendousness of Ben Hur could be successfully handled. In the flies, pulleys have been set every one foot apart in the depth so that it will be possible to dress the stage 32 feet wide and any depth from one foot to thirty-five and everything is hoisted right up in the skyscraper and nothing will be rolled at all. The stage will be equipped with an asbestos curtain and an advertising curtain as well as the necessary change of scenery, wings and other accessories. The fly gallery is located on the west side high above the proscenium arch and there the stage hands will operate the scenery and curtains.
A wide door in the east wall opens level with the roadway from whence the baggage of the performers will be swung by means of a block and tackle over the trap door in the center of the stage and lowered to the dressing rooms which are directly under the stage. Of dressing rooms there are seven, each steam heated and equipped with hot and cold water. The floor of each room is of cement which will lessen the danger from fire.
All in all the Alta theatre is a splendid play house; large and comfortable, capable of handling any show that travels, conveniently located for both playgoers and traveling companies. The big opening occurs next week and amusement lovers will then have an opportunity to inspect if personally.